Triyuginarayan Temple

Introduction to Triyuginarayan Temple

Triyuginarayan Temple is in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. This temple is dedicated to Vishnu, but it is famous as the temple where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati took place. It lies at a height of 6400 ft from sea level. This scenic village also offers spectacular views of snow-covered Himalayan peaks. It even has a trek route to Kedarnath Temple. 'Triyuginarayan' contains three words. 'Tri' means three. 'yugi' means the duration of time, and 'Narayan' is another name for Vishnu.

Legend of Triyuginarayan Temple

The legend of the Triyuginarayan Temple is interesting. According to the legend, Shiva and Sati married at Triyuginarayan, the capital of Himavat. There was an Agni-kund in front of the temple. Their marriage took place before it. Vishnu made all the arrangements for this celestial wedding, and Brahma was the priest who officiated during their marriage.

Before the marriage ceremony, both bathed in three kunds: Rudra Kund, Brahma Kund, and Vishnu Kund. Pilgrims who visit the temple consider the ash from the burning fire holy and carry it with them. They strongly believe that the ash will bless them with conjugal bliss. Pilgrims can find a holy fire before the temple that burns endlessly. People offer wood to the sacred fire and take the holy ash.

The Architecture of Triyuginarayan Temple

The architecture of the Triyuginarayan Temple reflects the North Indian style of temple architecture. It is also known as Akhand Dhuni Temple. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya is responsible for its construction. He initiated the construction of many temples in Uttarakhand.

The temple is built of stones and wood. A large courtyard surrounds it. A small door on the eastern side is the temple's main entrance. The door has carved images of various deities and mythological figures. The temple's walls feature paintings and carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology. In the center of the room, there is a Vishnu statue.

The sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) is a small, square-shaped room with a spire on top built entirely of stone. It houses a 2-feet silver idol of Vishnu, who is accompanied by his consort, Lakshmi. Devotees can also see and worship Badrinarayan, Sita Ramachandra, Saraswati, and Kubera idols. Pilgrims can see an idol of the newlywed form of Shiva and Parvati near the perpetual fire. There is a Shaligram Shila of Vishnu resting alongside Lakshmi and Ganesha.

There are smaller shrines of various deities as well. There is also a large stone water tank. People believe that the water in the tank is holy water and has healing properties.

In the temple's vicinity, the devotees can also see the four sacred ponds, namely Rudra Kund, Vishnu Kund, Brahma Kund, and Saraswati Kund. The Rudra Kund is for bathing, Vishnu Kund is for self-cleansing, Saraswati Kund is for the blessing of liberation, and the Brahma Kund is for drinking water. The Ganga originates in the courtyard of the temple and fills these ponds. Pilgrims who come to the Triyuginarayan Temple also pay homage to the Gauri Kund Temple. It is at the base camp of the Kedarnath temple trek!

'Akhand Dhooni' is an eternal fire that always burns at the Triyuginarayan Temple. This sacred fire has been burning continuously for over 900 years. The fire is believed to have been lit by Brahma and was supposedly used in the marriage ceremony of Shiva and Parvati.

Festivals in Triyuginarayan Temple

The Kedar festival is grandly celebrated for Shiva in July/August every year. Devotees from across the country throng to this temple to worship the deity. Kartik Poornima, Maha Shivaratri, Navratri, and Diwali are other festivals that are celebrated in the Triyuginarayan Temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at Triyuginarayan Temple

The Triyuginarayan Temple is associated with the divine union of Shiva and Parvati. Devotees believe that performing marriages at the temple makes the couple's relationship enduring.